Two Veteran Health Care Leaders Join CareMore Health System

CERRITOS, Calif., March 10, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CareMore Health System has named Sophia W. Chang, M.D., MPH, chief clinical innovation officer and Karen H. Sugano senior general manager for California, effective immediately. Dr. Chang is the organization's first chief clinical innovation officer and will be responsible for assuring that CareMore's core clinical model is constantly integrating new clinical insights, developments, and technology. She will also have oversight of advanced practice and primary care at CareMore. Ms. Sugano will drive strategic partnerships and operations for one of the company's largest markets, California, including its recently announced affiliation with Cedars-Sinai Medical Group.

"CareMore is excited to welcome both Dr. Chang and Ms. Sugano to CareMore's leadership team," said Dr. Sachin H. Jain, chief operating officer and chief medical officer of CareMore. "In this era of change in health care, Dr. Chang is an advocate of team-based care, which is in line with CareMore's model. In her role as chief clinical innovation officer, she will lead the organization to continue to create and implement new models of engagement and practice for CareMore and the nation. Ms. Sugano, a proven leader in health care, will supply CareMore with operational insights and strategic direction to drive growth and expansion in California, a key market for CareMore."

"CareMore is known for its culture of putting members first and providing them with exceptional care," said Dr. Chang. "It's an honor to join this team of professionals dedicated to continually assuring that we do whatever it takes to meet the needs of patients and their families."

Dr. Chang most recently served as vice president of programs at the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF). She held a prior position with CHCF as director for better chronic disease care where she drove initiatives dedicated to improving care delivery. Dr. Chang also led the Veterans Health Administration's national Center for Population Health. She received her Masters of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley and her Doctor of Medicine from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University. Dr. Chang has published numerous articles on continuous quality improvement in health care and health information technology. She is affiliated with the School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

Ms. Sugano served as corporate vice president and general manager of SCAN Health Plan for Northern California prior to coming to CareMore. She also acted as vice president of network development at Buenaventura Medical Group in Ventura, Calif., and was vice president of managed care for SeaView IPA in Oxnard, Calif. Ms. Sugano received her Master of Health Administration from the University of Southern California and her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

"I am excited to join such a talented and passionate organization," said Ms. Sugano, "I look forward to collaborating with the CareMore team on the continued transformation of healthcare, and achieving excellent health outcomes for our members."

About CareMore
CareMore, a subsidiary of Anthem Inc, has invested in developing an extensive clinical infrastructure centered on high-touch patient care for Medicare beneficiaries and other populations. Its model focuses on prevention and highly coordinated care resulting in clinical outcomes above the national average. CareMore serves more than 80,000 Medicare  Advantage members throughout Southern California, Northern California, Las Vegas and  Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., under federally-approved Medicare Advantage contracts. CareMore also is participating in a dual demonstration project in parts of Los Angeles County in conjunction with state and federal regulators to coordinate care for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

Contact:  Charla Hawkins (562) 480-2130 [email protected]

SOURCE CareMore